Many people are noting that it is rather straightforward to grow cucumbers. This is especially when you see them as climbing vines. Before one can learn how to plant cucumbers, more information about them is necessary in order to ensure successful growth.

Cucumbers are members of the cucurbitaceae family like squashes and melons. There are slicing varieties and pickling varieties. The slicing varieties can be eaten fresh and they can grow to around 35 centimeters while the pickling varieties are often pickled and they can grow to about 10 centimeters long. They are especially adored for the beneficial nutrients they can give to our nails, hair and skin. It is the Burpless variety that is known for their good flavor and easy to digest properties.

When preparing to grow cucumbers, you need to dig fair amounts of organic compost in the soil. It should be about the depth of a spade.
You can plant cucumbers indoors. You do this by sowing them in biodegradable seedling pots. This ensures undamaged roots. You can only plant them prior to the last frost.

Make sure there's a gap of about 40 centimeters between the seedlings. If you choose to grow from seed, group sowing is recommendable. You can sow three seeds in a single hole as this can increase chances of germination. The seeds should also be planted about 2.5 centimeters deep.

To successfully grow cucumbers, the location is very important. They need good amounts of warmth and sunshine everyday. This is why greenhouses are favored for cucumbers. Make sure also that there are adequate spaces between each cucumber as they can rapidly grow to around 6 feet. If space is limited, you can also train the plant to grow against a stake, wall or trellis.

Soil variety, of course, is also vital. A well-drained soil is what cucumbers need. You can also plant them in raised beds that are around 6 inches high. They also thrive in sandy loam soils. You just need to ensure that the soil contains good amounts of organic matter as manure can guarantee nutrients for the plants.

When tending to your cucumbers, you need to regularly weed them. Just make sure you don't go below s few centimeters because there's a risk that you'll damage the root system. This can damage the growth of the plant.

You need to water the cucumbers every week if you want them to grow firm and juicy. Matter of fact, cucumbers are known to have very high water content.
Cucumber plants possess both female and male flowers. Amongst the two, the female flowers are the ones that produce cucumbers. You can also aid in the pollination process to increase fruit count. You can use a cotton bud in transferring pollen from male flowers to the center of you female flowers. You can distinguish the females from the males as they feature tiny cucumbers by the base.

Cucumbers are harvestable already when they reach a suitable size. The usual timeframe is 50 to 60 days subsequent to planting. You'll notice their skin turning dark green. Once hey turn yellow, they're already over ripe.

Take out the cucumbers by twisting them off the plant. Another option is to cut the stalks over the cucumber tips.